Vertical Skin Bunching After Tummy Tuck

If this bunching does not completely flatten out over the next few months (I suspect that it will not), you will probably require revision of your tummy tuck. Your surgeon is correct about the bunching resulting from the underlying muscle tightening. Although that was likely corrected very well, the overlying skin and fat is not laying correctly and will likely need to be re-draped, or possible converted to a "Fleur-de-lis" pattern for your incision, which would result in an long vertical incision.

Hello TATA3,

Congratulations on completing your tummy tuck procedure, and thank you for reaching out with your question.

It's entirely normal to experience some degree of skin bunching or puckering in the early stages of recovery, especially given the tightness required to repair severe muscle separation. At just 3 days post-surgery, your body is still in the very early stages of healing, and it's essential to allow time for the swelling to subside and the tissues to settle.

In many cases, as your body continues to heal and the swelling diminishes, the skin will naturally flatten out over time. It's crucial to follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions carefully and attend all follow-up appointments to monitor your progress.

However, if the skin bunching persists or becomes a concern as you progress further into your recovery, it's best to discuss this with your plastic surgeon. They can assess your situation and determine whether any additional interventions, such as a revision procedure, may be necessary to achieve the desired results.

Remember, patience is key during the recovery process, and it's essential to give your body the time it needs to heal properly.

Wishing you a smooth and successful recovery journey.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

Please wait at least a few months before evaluating your results as you are still early in your recovery. However, this problem may not resolve itself to the extent you would like and you may require a revision. 

This is very early after surgery, and I believe a significant amount of this redundancy will improve with time through the process of apoptosis. However, there some laxity may persist and may require a vertical incision for correction.

The skin bunching that you have may be due to not having wide undermining performed at the time of your urgeyr. This may or may not get better with time.

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective technique to contour the abdomen. Immediately after a tummy tuck, it is possible to notice some skin wrinkling around the incision. In your case, it is possible that you may require a small revision surgery to remove the bunching that will not settle on its own.

Be sure to discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon as they may recommend a binder or a garment that will help manage the swelling and provide support for your comfort.

To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:

It is very important for the surgeon to tighten the muscles as your surgeon has. However, he/she may need to separate the fat and skin from the muscle to the sides more so that the bunching is reduced.

I expect that the vertical bunching will improve with time, but it is difficult to say if it will resolve completely. It appears that you have a vertical scar from an old procedure, causing some tethering in the mid-abdomen. I will often revise these scars at the time of surgery to allow the tissues to stretch further and prevent the central tethering.
It will likely take three to four months to know for sure if the problem will resolve. If it does not, then some sort of local revision may be required. I would encourage you to discuss it with your surgeon.